Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla calls for common digital audit monitoring platform for state legislatures

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday proposed a common digital audit monitoring platform for state legislatures, modelled on the system available to parliamentary committees, to track audit observations, strengthen follow-up and ensure timely disposal of audit reports.

Addressing the valedictory session of the two-day Conference of Chairpersons of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of Parliament and State and Union Territory Legislatures, LS Speaker Birla called for coordinated efforts to strengthen financial scrutiny and legislative oversight.

He said digital innovations could improve the efficiency, transparency and effectiveness of committees. However, he cautioned against excessive dependence on technology, stressing that it could support decision-making but could not replace human judgment.

LS Speaker Birla also emphasised the need to ensure the accuracy, authenticity and impartiality of information accessed through digital platforms, saying reliable data was essential to credible governance.

Referring to suggestions made by Lok Sabha PAC Chairman K. C. Venugopal, the Speaker urged parliamentary and state legislative committees to jointly develop a comprehensive audit and evaluation system to address common challenges, including delays in examining audit reports.

While the Comptroller and Auditor General conducts independent audits, PACs must examine the findings, scrutinise the facts and ensure effective follow-up, he said. Audit observations should lead to corrective measures and improvements in administration, with the Executive implementing committee recommendations promptly.

LS Speaker Birla described the Keralam Resolution adopted at the conference as a roadmap for strengthening PACs and called for its recommendations to be translated into concrete action.

He said growing public investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, social welfare and rural development had increased the importance of ensuring that funds were used responsibly and for their sanctioned purposes.

Legislative oversight must assess whether expenditure delivers its intended benefits and produces measurable improvements in citizens’ lives, he said. Such scrutiny should cover the quality and durability of infrastructure, timely completion of projects and delivery of welfare benefits to eligible recipients.

The Lok Sabha Speaker called for regular training for legislators, PAC staff and CAG personnel to help them understand emerging technologies and examine increasingly complex financial and technical issues.

He also proposed regular meetings and exchanges among PACs to share successful practices and technological solutions. Representatives from 27 states participated in the conference, he noted.

Addressing the session, Venugopal said PACs must adapt as public money moves through increasingly complex channels. He stressed timely audits of public schemes and prompt presentation of audit reports before legislatures.

Expressing concern over delayed, incomplete or missing replies from ministries and departments, he urged the Executive to provide comprehensive responses without delay.

Venugopal suggested that at least one PAC report be discussed in Parliament and each state legislature to bring the committees’ work to wider public attention.

He also called for closer Centre-state coordination in scrutinising Centrally Sponsored Schemes and proposed at least one annual meeting between Union and state PACs devoted to these programmes.

Specialised staff, training and greater use of technology, including a dashboard to track audit paragraphs and action taken, were necessary to strengthen scrutiny, he said.

The conference focused on “Audit, Accountability, and Good Governance—The Evolving Role of the PAC”, with discussions covering financial oversight, audit follow-up, technological innovation and institutional capacity.

(PIB)

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